Thinking of getting an Up

So I'm looking at getting my first car soon (at the grand old age of 27) and atm am leaning towards the VW up. I'll be mainly using it around town, so I want something small, and the insurance/running costs are nice and cheap. I do however like hillwalking and climbing, which leads me on to why I'm posting here.

From what I've read in reviews it does surprisingly well on motorways for such a small car, easily equaling the next category up from most manufacturers. For the amount I'll be on a motorway that suits me just fine. The issue I'm wondering about though is when I get to the other end of said motorway, because as well as summer walking I enjoy being out in the winter, and am wondering if a car being so small has an adverse effect in the cold/snow.

Will the light nippy handling designed to be driven around the city become a liability as soon as road conditions are less than perfect, or should it be able to cope as well as any other 2-wheel drive car?

I have considered 4WD, but the only small 4WD car in my budget/suitable insurance wise is the Panda, and they just really don't click with me.

I think the Up! Is fine in snow (my boyfriend leases one), however they aren’t too reliable for starting in snow. If you’ve been parked up in the cold, the handbrake often sticks, and it takes a lot of warming up to budge which is concerning! VW just shrugged and said it happens when they reported it.. Sam problem with the polo. Wouldn’t recommend in cold temperatures purely for that reason.

What's your budget and other preferences for the car? Age, looks, doors etc

Thanks for the info. How long does it normally take to warm up before it's all back to normal? The only time I'm likely to be in the snow much is for leisure, so having to sit for 5min having a snack/planning the day ahead a it warms isn't a problem. Half an hour though and it might wear thin.

Can you get a Smart car for that? Citigos and Ups are awful lol.

So I'm looking at getting my first car soon (at the grand old age of 27) and atm am leaning towards the VW up. I'll be mainly using it around town, so I want something small, and the insurance/running costs are nice and cheap. I do however like hillwalking and climbing, which leads me on to why I'm posting here.

From what I've read in reviews it does surprisingly well on motorways for such a small car, easily equaling the next category up from most manufacturers. For the amount I'll be on a motorway that suits me just fine. The issue I'm wondering about though is when I get to the other end of said motorway, because as well as summer walking I enjoy being out in the winter, and am wondering if a car being so small has an adverse effect in the cold/snow.

Will the light nippy handling designed to be driven around the city become a liability as soon as road conditions are less than perfect, or should it be able to cope as well as any other 2-wheel drive car?

I have considered 4WD, but the only small 4WD car in my budget/suitable insurance wise is the Panda, and they just really don't click with me.

Odd, I've read pretty much the polar opposite on most review sites. Do you have much experience with both cars?

I love my Up! It is a new 90HP one though as I wanted more power as I was changing from a 1.4 diesel. It's very similar to the Citigo [which I have driven] but a bit smarter inside.
Never had any issues with the handbrake and have driven it in snow. You could think about winter tyres?

I probably should have specified - in terms of general driving and running costs they're excellent, the size is a plus for bay parking and width restrictive roads as well.

But cornering in that thing is just a nasty experience (for me anyway) - I like my cars to have a bit of a play when going round a corner, the Up tends to body itself around corners; you'll start turning for a shallow bend and it'll be like "oh you were talking to me" instead of just bloody turning. This isn't a HUGE problem on a normal road in good driving conditions, but the moment it gets a bit wet you'll realise your terrible mistake soon enough. The automatic gearbox is a joke on it too (but I don't drive autos). Also in 2018, it's crazy that a car can honestly sell without adjustable reach. I'm also too big for that car height-wise :P

It's basically a budget Polo filling a gap in the market that previously only Smart Cars had access to.

Skodas on the other hand make for better estate/saloons than hatchbacks (again, my opinion); remove bias from the equation and take practicality over looks; it's a better car to "drive" than a VW Up. Ironically better to drive than its' big brother the Fabia. I've only got to test drive both these cars so take with a pinch of salt. But if I was looking at a car in that segment I'd just take a smart car any day; if you absolutely must choose - get a Citigo. The Up looks better, the Citigo drives better.

Thanks for the thoughts, but bar the small car in the snow worry, I'd pretty much decided on one of the 3 Up variants. The vast majority I've read on them say they're the most fun and best handling city car, so I guess maybe it's just down to your driving style. Judging by the videos of it going round the Nurburg ring it's certainly no slouch in the corners. That and the thought of a smart car on the motorway just doesn't sound like fun to me.

Reading on another forum after googling "Up! vs Polo" (yes, it is something I'd already considered) some were even saying they'd chose the Up! over the Polo unless you were able to get one of the top of the line engines.

I'm only 5'11" so still have probably about half a foot over my head.

As I say though, thanks for your thoughts, always good to have another view point, even if it is just to make me go back and clarify what I'd read elsewhere.

So I'm looking at getting my first car soon (at the grand old age of 27) and atm am leaning towards the VW up. I'll be mainly using it around town, so I want something small, and the insurance/running costs are nice and cheap. I do however like hillwalking and climbing, which leads me on to why I'm posting here.

From what I've read in reviews it does surprisingly well on motorways for such a small car, easily equaling the next category up from most manufacturers. For the amount I'll be on a motorway that suits me just fine. The issue I'm wondering about though is when I get to the other end of said motorway, because as well as summer walking I enjoy being out in the winter, and am wondering if a car being so small has an adverse effect in the cold/snow.

Will the light nippy handling designed to be driven around the city become a liability as soon as road conditions are less than perfect, or should it be able to cope as well as any other 2-wheel drive car?

I have considered 4WD, but the only small 4WD car in my budget/suitable insurance wise is the Panda, and they just really don't click with me.

UP is a very good car, and perfect for you.

Do not worry about snow, it literally snows twice a year in this country.

If you are worried about snow, just get bigger wheels, snow tyres and you will be fine.

The Up looks better, the Citigo drives better.

As I say, I like being outdoors in the winter, I pretty much go looking for snow.

How can I get bigger wheels though? I mean snow tyres, sure, I'll look into those on any car, but bigger wheels?

As I say, I like being outdoors in the winter, I pretty much go looking for snow.

How can I get bigger wheels though? I mean snow tyres, sure, I'll look into those on any car, but bigger wheels?

https://www.wheelbasealloys.com/alloy-wheels/volkswagen/up/2011-present/17-inch

Alternatively, an audi a6 allroad is a beast the snow. Expensive up keep tho